Maven exec plugin execution conundrum

Question

Sample maven build file:

<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"
         xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
         xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0
                             http://maven.apache.org/maven-v4_0_0.xsd">
  <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
  <groupId>test</groupId>
  <artifactId>test</artifactId>
  <version>1.0.0</version>
      <build>
        <plugins>
          <plugin>
            <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
            <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
            <executions>
              <execution>
                <id>my-validation-one</id>
                <phase>validate</phase>
                <goals>
                  <goal>exec</goal>
                </goals>
              </execution>
            </executions>
            <configuration>
              <executable>echo</executable>
              <arguments>
                <argument>"My validation one"</argument>
              </arguments>
            </configuration>
          </plugin>
          <plugin>
            <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
            <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
            <executions>
              <execution>
                <id>my-validation-two</id>
                <phase>validate</phase>
                <goals>
                  <goal>exec</goal>
                </goals>
              </execution>
            </executions>
            <configuration>
              <executable>echo</executable>
              <arguments>
                <argument>"My validation two"</argument>
              </arguments>
            </configuration>
          </plugin>
        </plugins>
      </build>
  <dependencies>
  </dependencies>
</project>

Sample maven output:

$ mvn install
/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Java/jdk1.5.0_20/bin/java -classpath C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\apache-maven-2.2.1/boot/classworlds-1.1.jar -Dclassworlds.conf=C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\apache-maven-2.2.1/bin/m2.conf -Dmaven.home=C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\apache-maven-2.2.1 org.codehaus.classworlds.Launcher "install"
[INFO] Scanning for projects...
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] Building Unnamed - test:test:jar:1.0.0
[INFO]    task-segment: [install]
[INFO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
[INFO] [exec:exec {execution: my-validation-one}]
[INFO] "My validation two"
[INFO] [exec:exec {execution: my-validation-two}]
[INFO] "My validation two"
[INFO] [resources:resources {execution: default-resources}]
<snip>

Shouldn't my-validation-one echo "My validation one" to the console? Why does it seem like maven is getting its wires crossed?

Thanks, Steven

Answer 1

You should put the configuration specific to the execution within the execution block. Then it should work correctly.

 <plugin>
    <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
    <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
    <executions>
      <execution>
        <id>my-validation-two</id>
        <phase>validate</phase>
        <goals>
          <goal>exec</goal>
        </goals>
        <configuration>
           <executable>echo</executable>
           <arguments>
              <argument>"My validation two"</argument>
           </arguments>
        </configuration>
      </execution>
    </executions>
  </plugin>

Also, if both the executions are bound to same phase and goal, you can combine then within executions block instead of declaring the plugin twice.